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Rutgers Plays The Nittany Lions Tough For Two Full Quarters

http://ybsportsonline.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=296&Itemid=128

November 19, 2022

Temple Owls Looking To Finish Strong Against USF In CFA Play

November 1, 2022

ybsports staff column,

The Owls also compete in a somewhat time competitive conference in football which unlike its’ basketball counterparts, which can be a grinding bowl. Temple last five opponents and this includes USF and the Owls, which have a combined 18 win against 30 losses to date. Not your most sought after teams for bowl selection! However, there have been some stellar performances turned in by members of The American Athletic Conference. For example, Tulsa’s tough loss by 8 points to then number 11 Mississippi on the Rebels home turf, or UCF’s win over an always highly regarded Cinncinati Bearcat Team, or USF’s 3 point loss to a perennial national power Florida Gator Team.

The Bulls will be featuring a new look at QB with Katravis Marsh finally getting his chance to show what he’s made of.At 6’5” tall and weighing in over 230 lbs, and a cannon for an arm, Marsh appears to have reset his purpose for playing after getting the nod to take over the quarterbacking duties for the Bulls. Marsh also seems to have gained the quick support of one of his most important offensive pieces in running back Brian Battie. It will be interesting to see what Marsh can do against an energized Temple team who will be getting their head coach, Scott Drayton back after taking some time off because of an unexpected illness.  After doing some deep soul searching, Marsh went into the transfer portal, but then had a change of mind a short time later and retracted that decision. Sometimes isolated and uninterrupted self introspection can yield invaluable results. No matter how you cut it, because of all of the aforementioned stuff, Marsh appears to have set his timeline to begin his permanent insertion as the leader of a program in serious need of a win, on Saturday November 5^th in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  USF’s record is 1-7, but prior to Marsh taking over for the injured Gerry Bohannon, the Bulls were sporting a 1-5 slate.

ybsports archived images,

The Owls are looking to return to the glory days when they were easily a shoo in for bowl eligibility

In this 2016 ybsports archive image, the heavily favored Owls suffered a 34-26 upset to Wake Forest in Annapolis

in the Military Bowl.

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WEEK 8WEEK 8 …................................................................................................…..-------------------------------------------

Lafayette Lets One Slip Away Against Sixth Seeded Holy Cross

10 22 2022

Fisher Stadium – College Hill, Pa.

Holy Cross 24       Lafayette  21

ybsports staff column,

The Lafayette Football program has been in existence for over 150 years and together along with Lehigh University the two schools have created one of the more storied rivalries in the country. But lately both programs had fallen on a bit of hard times as neither have had a run of success in the competitive Patriot League. But on Saturday afternoon on College Hill, the Leopards came within a whisker of taking down the FCS’s sixth ranked program in The College of The Holy Cross. -----------------------------------------------

Holy Cross Head Football Coach Bobby Chesney displayed an act of class not seen too often in college sports these days when he instructed his QB to kneel after the snap when his Crusaders had a first and goal from the three yard line with about a minute and a half to play in the game.  Coach Chesney's team held a three point lead at the time the Leopards turned the ball over after fumbling it it. A simple dive play could have resulted in seven more points and raised the visitors win total to 31 to 21 thus giving the appearance that a loss by his team was never in jeopardy. Whatever the reason was for Coach Chesney's decision, that gesture will always be looked at as a class act, but what would one expect from a former Lourdes Regional High School Graduate who was coaching in a game not far from his hometown. On the flip side of things, Lafayette College's Head Coach John Troxell will probably lose some sleep over a loss that could have gone the Leopards way ten ways from Sunday but because of mistakes,  the Leopards loss to the nations sixth ranked team on Saturday afternoon on city's College Hill section will be felt for a long time by the Lafayette faithful because it seemed like

the host team did everything in its' power to make sure the Crusaders from Worcester, Massachusetts would make the 4 hour bus ride back to College Square, still holding onto the number sixth spot in the FCS's rankings.  More to the point, there are probably two plays that spelled the difference between winning and losing. First there was the blocked punt by an aggressive Holy Cross punt return team against Lafayette with the Leopards punting from deep in their territory (with about 90 seconds left before halftime) somewhere around the ten yard line, that was returned for six points with the Crusaders holding onto a slim three point lead, and then there was the fourth and goal that the Crusaders converted into six point when here seemed to be an apparent breakdown in defensive assignments by the entire Leopard secondary. Finally, there was the turnover by the Leopards while again playing from deep in their territory, coughing the ball up with about a minute or so to play.  As if it's any consolation, the takeaway here for the struggling Leopards is that their coach noted that the fight the team showed was epic in the loss.

ybsports staff images,

A Lafayette receiver goes airborne to snag a pass while under heavy pressure from a Holy Cross defender.

The Big 10 Conf Has Five Of The Country's Top Ten Running Backs

As of 9/25/2022

1. Chase Brown – …….... (The Illini)  664 yards

2. Mohamed Ibrahim … (Minnesota)  567 yards

5. Braelon Allen …......... (Wisconsin)  497 yards

7. Blake Corom  …........ (Michigan)   478 yards

10.Anthony Grant….. (Northwestern)  464 yards

** THE WATCH IS ON FOR PENN STATE'S NIC SINGLETON FROM GOVERNOR MIFFLIN HIGH SCHOOL IN BERKS COUNTY.

WEEK 4 .................................……..Merrimack College 26 - Delaware State 13

September 24, 2022

College Football 2022

Dover, De.   Alumni Stadium

YBSPORTS STAFF COLUMN,

Merrimack College made the trip south to the State of Delaware to renew their football series with The Delaware State University Hornets on Saturday afternoon in Dover. Between the two colleges, there are a total of Thirteen Eastern Pennsylvania Athletes representing their respective high schools. The location of the players schools stretches from Harrisburg to Philadelphia and places in between. But no one stood taller than Merrimack QB Gavin  McCusker, the Warriors Red Shirt Freshman signal caller out of Exeter Area.  McCusker if you remember and were following The Berks County Football Playoffs and subsequently into the PIAA State Football Playoffs, was the driving force in leading his Exeter High School Team to a PIAA 5A State semi-final playoff game. Along the way, McCusker and his Eagles knocked off  the current PIAA State 5A runner up Governor Mifflin, and their All American Running Back Nic Singleton. And if you've been watching any  Big 10 Football this season then you know who's been tearing up the league as Penn State University's newest secret weapon.

Coach Jim Franklin was actually on the sideline last year during a Mifflin football game when he was checking in on his prized recruit. As for McCusker and his Warriors, they came into the game sporting a 1-2 record and DESU was sitting at 2-1 and when the final horn sounded, both teams walked off the Alumni turf all even at 2-2. Part of the reason was Merrimack QB Gavin McCusker who was extremely efficient filling in for starter Sophomore QB Jack Zergiotis out of Quebec, Canada. The Warriors never skipped a beat with McCusker at the helm as he controlled the Warrior offense from start to finish. One of the game's highlights was a pass that was uncorked by receiver Jacari Carter to receiver Jelani Mason for a 54 yard score and a 14-0 Merrimack lead in the first quarter. Merrimack also unleashed a defensive attack that limited Delaware State to a paltry 33 yards rushing on the ground and just 164 yards of total offense on the day. Quarterback C.J. Henry of Delaware State. threw for 132 yards on 17 of 19 attempts.

YBSPORTS STAFF IMAGES

Delaware State Wide receiver Jerrish Halsey tries to shake off Merrimack;s Rodney Samson after catching a pass.

Merrimack QB Gavin McCusker gets off a pass while DESU;s Rodney Holmes applies pressure

DESU's Derrico Posten #68 and Merrimack's Jason Compoh #98 struggle fiercely for leverage on Saturday.

Merrimack's Jelani Mason puts a move on Delaware State linebacker Brooks Parker and heads downfield.

Mack's Jecari Carter loads up to unleash a bomb to a wide open Jalani Mason deep down field.

Jelani Mason of Merrimack, heads for endzone after hauling in a long pass from team mate Jecari Carter.

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WEEK 3

Richmond 30 - Lehigh University 6

September 3, 2022-

South Mountain, Pa. Goodman Stadium

ybsports staff column

Richmond Quarterback Reece Udinski was nearly unstoppable as he threw the ball all over the field against Lehigh on Saturday afternoon in leading his Spiders to a sound win over Lehigh.

The MountainHawk faithful did their thing on Saturday afternoon at beautiful Goodman Stadium, but their team suffered another difficult defeat at the hands of Colonial League foe Richmond University. Lehigh Head Man Coach Tom Gilmore, will have to find more potency somewhere in his offensive attack which is what many of the devoted Lehigh followers have come to expect. Great Tailgaiting, the march of the Lehigh 99 Band, and winning not only games, but Big Games at Goodman Stadium had become the norm.

Under the guidance of former coaches Sir Kevin Higgins and Knight-Andy Cohen, Lehigh's huge following on game day, went home on more occasions, happier than sad! There were always two things you could count on Lehigh's South Mountain Sports Campus in September and going into the dreary sometimes rainy months of October and into November was that there would be football, come rain or shine and there would be wins. Plenty of them! On Saturday afternoon at Goodman Stadium Lehigh had two things working against them, one was an offense that was sorely lacking 'Big Energy' and the other was Richmond Quarterback Reece Udinski! Pretty much like their Patriot League counterpart Lafayette College just nine miles away in Easton and having to deal with another CAA Star in Caden Newton, on this Saturday The MountainHawks had to deal with a fast rising star in Reece Udinski.

Just how good is Reece Udinski, a 6 foot five inch transfer from VMI last year who has amazing accuracy and a great set of wheels...uh legs and a very quick release? My guess is that the current Seattle Seahawks Coach Pete Carroll must know about him because one of The Seahawks Top Recruiters was standing on the Richmond sideline for the entire first half scouting Udinski! You ask how is that a given? Just paying close attention to sideline conversation would be a good start!  I would also imagine that life in the NFL for a Quarterback still in the proving grounds phase, has to be a 'do I constantly need to look over my shoulder' type of thing! Needless to say, teams like Lehigh and Lafayette have to find a way to neutralize opposing teams laden with this quality of talent.

 

ybsports image

Lehigh's offensive line was up to the task as they held their own in protecting QB Dante Perry

Richmond Quarterback Reece Udinski takes off with ball after his protection breaks down.

Richmond's Aaron Dykes, pulls out of the grasp of Lehigh's Geoffery Jamiel (#9) on ground.

Richmond's Savon Smith gets ready to haul ib a screen pass which resulted in a short gain

Richmond's blocking trifecta of Joe More, Cade Salyers and Tony Elia discuss strategy before the snap.

Richmond's Matei Fitz breaks free in time to put the pressure on Lehigh QB Dante Perry on Saturday

Lehigh receiver Brent Rosendorf loses his grip as he gets tripped up by a Richmond defender.

Lehigh QB Dante Perry hands off to his running back Gaige Garcia in the 3RD Quarter

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

William & Mary 34 - Lafayette College 67

September 17, 2022-

College Hill, Pa. Fisher Field

ybsports staff column,

Lafayette College's former Head Football Coach John Garrett didn't do the school's new and incoming Coach John Troxell any favors by loading up the schedule for this year's Leopards as the team on College Hill as it is known to it's followers, has already stared down a gauntlent of talent in it's first three games.  Unless Lafayette's last coach was brewing some secret formula that he been developing during the off season, one has to wonder what he had in mind filling the 2022 schedule with a Northeastern Conference juggernaut in Sacred Heart, a Colonial Conference Association standout in William & Mary and an always difficult to beat USA Conference Member in Temple University in Philadelphia no less, to kick the season off!

But luckily for Lafayette, they have in their Head Coach John Troxell, one of the school's fiercest competitors in his own right. Troxell, who hails from nearby Phillipsburg, New Jersey comes from a family of winners who've made their namesake by taking on tough athletic challenges and many times in the face of insurmountable odds, so you can bet that John Troxell isn't ready to concede anything to any of the competition he'll face going forward and that attitude will definitely rub off on his charges.     In fact, Lafayette football fans have already caught a glimpse of what is to come in the Leopards first home game as they put up a tough goal line stand to hold off a very strong and extremely capable Sacred Heart Team who had a first and goal from inside the one!

But this week's loss to William & Mary also signaled a coming of age for Troxell's Team as the Leopards battled a William & Mary squad that is fully loaded for bear in the talent department and will be a force to be reckoned with in The CAA this year. With the likes of such talents as Caden Newton, (The younger brother of former Heisman Winner and NFL Star Cam Newton), who transferred from Auburn University to follow one of his coaches when he was at Auburn, seems to working out quite well as Newton proved too much for the Leopards offensively. Newton was very effective for the Tribe as he ran back punts continually giving his team satisfactory field positioning as well as getting behind a solid Lafayette secondary for a long touchdown catch.

William & Mary put their #17 ranking on the line Satuerday at Fisher Field and was never threatened.

ybsports image

William & Mary's Darius Wilson drops back to pass against Lafayette on Saturday in Easton, Pa.

William & Mary running back Martin Lucas is surrounded by a trio of would be Leopard tacklers

Lafayette's Nahjee Adams has little success in keeping William & Mary's Nate Lynn in check

W & M's defense led by #92 Momed Zahid was aggressive all day in limiting the Leopards offense

William & Mary's all purpose player Caden Newton breaks free for a nice gain on a punt return

Lafayette running back Jamar Curtis finds the lanes blocked by the Pioneer's John Pius #8

Colby Sorsdal #65 of William & Mary was a consistent point of security for QB Darius Wilson

WEEK 2

Kutztown University  24  -   #17 California U. of Pa.   19

September 10, 2022-

Kutztown, Pa.   Andre Reed Stadium

Trailing the number seventeenth team in the country and needing two scores to pull out the win isn't the most envious position Kutztown University's Team wanted to find itself in on Saturday afternoon at Andre Reed Stadium, but that's exactly where they were. Along with a disciplined defensive pack holding the high scoring Vulcans' from California, the Golden Bears were simply just that, Golden through and through as they marched 97 yards for one score then followed that up with a 75 yarder to ice the win. The Golden Bears appear to be making a habit out of knocking off higher ranked opponents in the last two years with wins over 18 TH ranked New Haven in the 2021 NCAA Playoffs and number 10 TH ranked Sheperd last year as well. Kutztown did an about face in the yardage department by amassing over 320 yards of offense compared to last week's paltry total 145 yards. Quarterback Donnie Blaine accounted for over 150 more yards in the air.   California QB Noah Mitchell threw for two touchdowns and 235 yards on 22 for 38 attempts for the visitors

ybsports staff images,

California Pa. QB Noah Mitchell appears to have plenty of time as he looks downfield for a receiver.

Kutztown Linebacker Kyle Sapp #6 applies heavy pressure on  California's Noah Mitchell in second quarter.

California's huge interior lineman Jaheim Bassham leads interference on a sweep left on Saturday.

Kutztown University's Tom Griese is held here by a lineman during pursuit of California's Quarterback.

WEEK 1

 

Lafayette College 6 - Sacred Heart University 0

September 3, 2022-

College Hill, Pa. Fisher Field

ybsports staff column,

The Lafayette College Leopard Football Team picked the right time to stiffen up their defense on Saturday when visiting Sacred Heart came to town. The Pioneers, the two time defending Northeast Conference Champions are no slouches. That they held the Leopards to just six points and were knocking on the door from the one yard line with a first and goal says something. But three consecutive errant throws by Sacred Heart's QB Marquez McCray and a goal line stuff by the Leopard 'D', preserved the win. Sacred Heart was fortunate to take the lead after starting their final drive from their own 23 yard line with just under two minutes to play before driving down to the Lafayette one yard line just prior to the Leopards defensive heroics. The entire Pioneer family will have plenty of time to think about what they could have done differently on their three hour bus ride back to Fairfield, Connecticut.

ybsports staff images,

The Sacred Heart offense had too many starts that began deep in it's own territory preventing enough  momentum.

Players from Sacred Heart University celebrate prematurely on the last play of the game.

Sacred Heart Coach Mark Nofri, hoping for a TD call,  watches the replay screen along with game officials.

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